Brake controlling device



Aug. 6, 1935. PlEPEl q I 2,010,273.

BRAKE CONTROLLING DEViCE Filed March 16, 1952 {Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 6, 1935. PIEPER 2,010,273

' BRAKE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 6, 1935. H. PIEPERY 2,010,273

' BRAKE CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed ma nle, 1932 [Sheets-Sheet s H. PIE PER BRAKE CONTROLLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' Filed March 16, 1932 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 a UNITED STATES PATENT-fOFFlCE Application March 16, 1932, Serial No; 599,303

' In Belgium March. 19, 193112! 12 Claims. ni ma) Applications have been filed in Belgium March Wheels maybeconstituted by a diaphragm work- 19, 1931 and Germany May 13, 1931, ing as a piston and being exposed on the one The invention relates to a brake device for side to the pressure'existing in the brake cylinder vehicles and similarpurposes and has for its oba d onthe other side to the action of. a return ject the correction of the variations of the dis- Spring; the tensionof which is sufficie t y high 5 tance between the brake shoes and the wheels. o prevent a displacement of the diaphragm dur- It has already been proposed to compensate the ing the apply the brake Shoes to e Wh s. increase of this distance by means of'a member :Insteadof a diaphragm or. of a similar means, following the movements of the piston under the an lc r magnet or a l n m y. be employed,

influence of a friction action and being operative h cir i f. which i ntrolled by m ns of 10 during the releasing of the brake shoes so as the needle of.a,manometer which is displaced by to arrest the movement of th pisto Thi omthe action of thepressu're existing in the brake pensation is obtained by changing the relative Cylinder n cl esth Circuit When this P position of this member and of the piston towards sure corresponds; to the initial p essu of the the end of the braking stroke. Such brake conr k he m r h vi e min 15 trolling device which compensates only the iinope a e v e moment Of. e application of crease of the distance between brake shoes and ib S' the w e ls y e fluenced wheels is not operative where diminutions of. the also; by a ast c means i se ted in the brake distance between brake shoes and wheels take -mechanismand directly r indirectly acting p place, and in particular cannot be employed on t is d vice by means of its deformations. 20 vehicles in which the distance between brake The arrest 0f the driving Piston during th shoes and wheels varies With the degree of bendr l es of h y h Obtained y a s ing of the suspension springs, i. e. of the vehicle of a me a c o b 0V gb Ween t e load. piston and the member usually following this pis- The brake controlling device according to the ten afriction forcehigher thanthecounter-force 25 invention compensates for a decrease as well as of the return pr g of h Piston and by arrangof an increase of the distance between brake ing an abutment-stopping, after acertain releasshoes andwheels. This result is obtained by 5; Stroke, h v of the member sual y automatically varying in the case'of a decrease of f owing the piston. Instead of a mechanical the distance between brake shoes and wheels the a a hydrelllice'ctioh y b p y d n 30 position of the member usually following the diswhich as here S in t d n o t e evacuation placements of the piston with respect to this u t Of a q d a Va v w c closes this piston by the action of a device becoming opera- .conduit at the endof the releasing stroke. This tive at the moment of the brakev shoes touching Va ve m y i l W e disp a e ts of the emthe wheels. In the case of an increase of thedisber u ly following the movement of the p n 35 tance between brake shoes and wheels this comtm yhe electrically. Controlled y this empensation is effected by the actiorrof a stationary bert I I abutment which stops the movement of the mem- Theaccompany g drawin w schematicalber following the piston when it has been dis- 1y, by W y Of example,v Several embodiments f .40 placed a certain distance corresponding to. the the brake ont e d e a di to t e 40 stroke of the piston required for applying the vention. Figure 1 illustrates a form of the in- .brake shoes to the wheels and. for braking. vention in which the blocking of the piston is ef- The correction of the diminutions of the 'disfected by hydraulic means. Figure2 shows in detance between brake shoes and wheels according tail the friction device. of Figure 1. FigureB repto the invention is basedon the fact that the resents a modified form of the brake controlling 45 driving action exercised by the brake piston upon device in which a piston, rapidly returning to its the brake mechanism during the applying oi the original position is used. Figured shows the elecbrake shoes to the wheels is relatively weak and trio controlof avalve inserted into a conduit, servcorresponds to the passive resistances and the ing for evacuating aliquid from the brake cylinder.

so counter-force of the return springs and, after Figure 5 shows the electric control of the member the applying of the-brake shoes to the wheels, usually following the piston. Figure 6 illustrates suddenly increases to anessentially higher value a form of the invention in which the blocking of for producing the braking action. thep is ton is efiected byi mechanical means during The device becoming operative at the moment the releasing stroke. Figure '7 shows the employof the application of the brake shoes to the merit of an elastic means inserted into the brake 55 mechanism for obtaining the displacement of the member following the piston. Figures 8 and 9 represent another modified form of the brake controlling device according to the invention in the releasing and in the braking position, respectively.

According to Figures 1 and 2, the piston 2, the rod 2a of which is connected to the brake mecha nism, is adapted to move in a cylinder 3 against the action of a return spring 217. Aring 4 composed of two parts is enabled to slide with-a relatively high friction upon the piston rod 2a. The friction action results from springs enclosingthe screws to connecting together the two ring halves. An adjusting lever 5 is articulate'dtodthe pivot 5a fixed solidly to the cylinder 3 and shows two slits conducting two pivots 4b fixed to the ring l. The upper end of the bracket Eriszarticulatedtoa rodfB carrying a valve 6a. The driving: 'sidecof :the piston 2 can be alternatively put in communication with a charging or discharging reservoir through the conduits. "1,8 by adjusting..the'cock:!9:accordingly.

' When turning. the cock 9 tothe positions shown .inFigure 1,, the liquid coining fronrthe charging reservoir throughtheconduits I; .lar and past the return'ivalve' l b enters" thetbrake. 2 cylinder: 3".and

. acts upon thepiston'E. .Assumingaznormal distancebetween brake shoes .an'dwheels; thevalve 7 6a, which is carried-away-by the piston; 2 through the medium of the member 6 followingthetmovement of the piston'z and Ofthe'frictiOn-ring 3a,

:.will occupy the position 611 immediately the brake shoes touch the wheels. During this. stroke'of the :applying of the brake shoes to the wheels," the pressure existing in the cylinder 3 is relatively feeble and. corresponds to the passive resistances and the'counter action of the return springZb. The actionof this pressure, exercised upon 'the small piston. l: movable in a cylinder branched from the conduit 'la, is not sufiiciently -high=ior compressing the return spring Illa of this piston l0. At 'the moment where thebrake shoes are applied to the wheels; the pressure suddenly increases in 'the cy'lin'der*-3 and in the'conduit 'lw to a very much higher value and-'consequently displaces the piston- I0 against theaction of the return "spring ltd. 1 At the end of "its stroke; the small pis- *Ga'to which the rod Nib is applied. During the braking 'action' proper, the piston 2 continues to 'move towards the righthand and' displaces the cupies the position-E300 atthemoment Of'the-ap- 'plication of the brake shoes to the wheels: and, therefore, attains the position 6:2 before the whole braking action istexecuted. During the remaining part of the braking'st-roke; the valve'Ga cannot overstepthe po-sitionffibr and, consequently; the piston rod 2a: xiiill-bedi'splaced' in the ring "4; relatively to this 'ring. 1' Du'ringjthe return of 'the pistonZ whichresults' from turr'ring the cock '9 from the positionD intothe positionF; the

valvefia will bedisplaced simultaneously with the piston'Z arid-closes the opening Bwwhen the piston2 has eifected'astroke-corresponding to the normal releasing stroke. 7 This "closure "of the opening 3w interrupts thejfiow of liquidfrom the cylinder 3; to the dischargereservoir through the conduit 8.

In the case-ofadecrea'se of the-distancebetween brake shoes and wheels, the valve 6a occupies for instance the position tanat the moment of the application of the brake shoes to the wheels. The increase of pressure arising at this moment in the cylinder 3 and in the conduit i will provoke a displacement of the small piston to to the right hand against the action of the return spring llla so that its rod "3b moves the valve a. into the position Ga 'Ihis displacement of the valve Ba is allowed for. the reason that the ring 4 is capable of sliding upon the piston rod 2a.

.During the braking action proper, the valve 6a moves from position fia to position ta, without ecausingthe ring 4 to slide upon the piston rod 2a. When releasing the brake shoes, the valve 6a arrests the flow of liquid towards the discharge res- .ervoirafter the piston 2 has effected the normal Jreleasing stroke. This working of the brake controlling, device shown in Figures 1 and 2 assures a distance of a constant value between the :brake shoes and the wheels after the releasing of the brakes.

EFigure -B is distinguished from Figure 1 by the -flow .of-liquid taking place during the releasing through-a conduit 81) having a cross-section re- .;duced inrelation to the pressure area of the pis- (ton ID. This reduction of cross-section has the 'efiect'rof diminishing the pressure more rapidly in the-'space'lilc where it acts upon the small :piston H1 than in the brake cylinder 3. Thererby the piston 10 is caused to rapidly return to its original. position and the members, movable with the piston-2, is prevented during the releasr-ing. of the brakes from being acted upon by the arm-10d 'fixed solidly to the piston H3 and corresponding to the rod "lb of Figure 1. According Etc-Figure 3; compensation for too little slack as 'TWGILaS for toolarge slack takes place in the same :manner as according to Figure 1.

According to Figure 4' the flow of the liquid from the'chargingreservoir to the brake cylinder. 3 is controlled by means of a valve id which :isheld-closedby an electro-magnet if, the excitation of which is sufficiently high to overcome :theraction of the pressure of the charge reservoir :tending to open the valve. The'flow of liquid irom the brake-cylinder 3 towards the discharge reservoir passes through a valve 80, being under ithe actionof a return spring 89 and controlled rby anelectro-magnet 81. The brake cylinder 3 --is connected-with'these valves on the one hand rthrou'gha conduit controlled by a return valve "lband on the other hand through the conduit 58b of reduced cross-section. The exciting circuit of the electro-magnet 8) contains a contact 6] integral with and movable with the member 6 and whichis displaced by the piston 2 simultaneously with the member 6. This movable contact -61 and a stationary contact 6g cooperate in such a'. way that the circuit of the electro-magnet 8f is opened at the end of the releasing stroke. The small piston it, which is adapted to move in its -cylinder against the action of the return spring Illa, acts after a certain stroke by means of the rod [0b upon the block 5d carrying the movable contact 6].

When the controller handle H is brought into the position F, the circuit of the electro-magnets -1 and'8f is interrupted, whereby the admission of liquid to the brake cylinder 3 is allowed through the valves id and lb and the conduit 81) of the reduced cross-section. Consequently the piston 2 will be displaced and results in the application of the brake shoes upon the wheels. During this stroke of the piston H], the pressure exercised upon this piston is not sufllciently high to displace the piston against the action of the return spring Illa. When the normal'distance exists between brake shoes and wheels, the block 6d will occupy the position-indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4 at the moment when the brake shoes touch the wheels i. e. at the end of the first period of the whole braking operation during which period 'the brake piston brings the brake shoes into contact with thewheels without yet exerting a braking pressure on the wheels. In the case of a diminution of this distance between brake shoes and wheels, the block Ed has not attained at this moment this position and the small piston l0 which is displaced at this moment under the action of the increase of pressure in the brake cylinder will execute its whole stroke and push the block 6d into the position it attains the abutment 6b at the moment of the completion of the braking stroke. On the other hand, where the distance between brake shoes and wheels has been increased, the block 6d oversteps the position indicated in dotted lines during the applying of the brake shoes upon the wheels so. that it. is arrested before the completion of the whole braking action by the abutment 6b, which causes the piston rod 2a to slide in the ring 4. Therefore, the block 6d always is brought into contact with the abutment 6b at the end of the whole braking stroke independently. of the increase or decrease .of the distance between brake shoes and wheels.

When the controller handle I l is brought into the releasing position D, the battery l3 supplies current tov the electro-magnet 8) through the controller contacts I I, lib and the contacts 69, 8 and also to the electro--magnet If. The electro-magnet 8f opens the valve 8d andthe electromagnet If closes the inlet valve 1 and the liquid of the brake cylinder 3 can be evacuated from this cylinder through the conduit 817 by the return spring 21) acting upon the piston 2. Owing to the small cross-section of the conduit 8?), the pressure actionupon the piston l0 falls more rapidly than the pressure action upon the driving piston 2, so that a rapid return of the small piston l0 into the original position takes place. When the block Ed has reached the position indicated in full lines, the circuit of the electro-magnet 8 is interrupted because the contact 6] leaves the contact 69. The valve 8d is then closed by its spring 8g and arrests the piston 2.. The distance between the stationary contact 69 and the abutment-6b is invariable and, therefore, the releasing stroke of the piston 2 cannot be varied and the distance between the brake shoes and the wheels is brought to the same permanently constant value, after each braking operation. This piston 2 can be held in any braking or releasing position by turning the controller handle II into the position 0 corresponding to the running of the vehicle and closing the two valves 8d and 1d.

, Figure is distinguished from Figures 1 to 4 in the small piston l0 being replaced by an electromagnet It, the armature of which is under the action of a return spring [3a. The magnet 13, when energized, pulls the rod Hlb integral with its armature to the right against the movable rod 6 carrying'the block 6111.. Theexciting circuit of 2b of the piston 2.

this electro-magnet is closed by the needle No of a manometer l4 at the moment of the application of the brake shoes to the wheels. In the case of an increase of the distance between brake 2 shoes and whe'els, the abutment 6m of the member 6, movable with thepistonl, results in the displacement of the friction ring 4 upon the piston rod 2a by touching the'stationary abutment 6b.

brings the movable abutment 6m into a position lying at a certain distance before the position indicated in dotted lines and corresponding to the position which this abutment 6m occupies'inthe case of a normal distance between brake shoes and wheels at the moment of the applying of the brake shoes to the wheels, the excited electromagnet 13 advances at the moment of contact of the brake shoes with the wheels the movable abutment 6m into the dotted line position by means of therod Nib acting upon the member 6 carrying the abutment 6m, and during advance of the abutment 6m, the ring 4 slides-upon the piston rod 2a.

The arresting of the driving piston at the end of the releasing stroke is effected on the one hand by the movable member 6 touching the rod i0!) having a limited stroke and on the other hand by choosing the friction force between the ring l and' 'the piston rod 2 higher than the force of the ring 4 and the piston rod 2a is chosen a little higher than the tension force of the return spring When the cock 9 is brought into the braking position F, the liquid flows from the charge reservoir through the conduits 'I, la, the return valve lb and the parallel conduit 8b of reduced cross-section into the cylinder 3 of the piston 2 and produces the displacement ofthis piston. As soon as the brake shoes have been applied upon the wheels, the small piston ID will bring the member 6 in the case of a decrease of the play into the position which it must occupy at this moment in the case of normal play.

At the end of the braking stroke the lever 5 is applied to an abutment 5a fixed solidly to the cylinder 3, and which corresponds to the abutment 6b of the Figures 1 to 5. Further brake application, after the lever 5 engages the abutment 5a, causes the rod 2a to slide relativeto the ring 4 and thereby compensate for too large. a slack. When the cock 9 is turned into the releasing position D, the liquid flows from the cylinder 3 through the conduit 8b, the cock 9 and the pipe 8 towards the discharge reservoir. The small cross-section of the conduit 8b allows the rapid return of the small pistonlll into the original position under the action of the spring Illa.

When the piston 2 has effected the normal releasing stroke, corresponding to the return of the brake shoes and brake levers into the initial position, the lever 5 contacts an abutment 5b fixed to the cylinder 3. Owing-to the relatively high friction existing between the ring 4 and the rod'2a, the movement of the piston 2 is stopped at this moment. The releasing stroke of the piston 2 is always limited to a value corresponding to the distance between the abutments 5a and 51).

Figure lshows the employment of the invention in the case of a compensated gear comprising two levers l4 and i5 carrying the brake shoes 14a, l5a and connected together by means or an articulationprod Hi. The brake piston 2 acts upon the lever l4-and the reaction of the brake lever system is received by the-bottom: of the brake cylinder 3 or other part fixed solidly to the :elastic means. The spring Ilvis dimensioned so thatv it is compressed onlywhen a reaction is I exercised-by the brake shoes-appliedto the wheels upon the brake lever system. A rod I51) articu- .-lated to theupper end of the lever I5 and acting :upon the spring i! is connected to a-lever I8 I which is articulated to the pivot 18a fixed solidly to the cylinder-3 and engages the rod l5b by I means of a bolt I50 passing through a slit of the rod I522. :The lever l8 serves to enable the brake :lever system to act upon the member 6 movable with the piston 2. The member 6 carries the abutment 5m which occupies the position indi cated in dotted lines at the moment of the application of the brake shoes to the wheels when a normal distance between brake shoes and wheels exists.

When the piston 2 is displaced to the right hand "during the braking operation by the liquid under a pressure entering the brake cylinder, it displaces at the same time the movable member 6. As soon as the brake shoes Ma, |5a have been ap'- yplied to the wheels, the driving force considerably increases and the lever 15 is turned relatively to "the appertaining brake shoe l5a serving as a stationary point of rotation so that the end of the rod l5b compresses the spring I! and is applied to the bottom of the cylinder 3. This dis- .placement of the rod i522 effects at the same time a corresponding rotation of the lever 18.

The possible compression of the spring I! is chosen so: that in the case of a decrease of the distance betweenbrake-shoes and wheels, the movable member or rod 6 is displaced by the lever l8 tosuchextent that the abutment 6m attains the position indicated in dotted lines. This displacement, allowed by the friction ring l sliding upon the piston rod 2a, causes a variation of the relative position of the rod 6 and the piston 2.

During the braking stroke proper, the displace- "ment of the abutment 6m from the position indicated in dotted lines to the abutment 6b corresponds, except upon the increase of the distance between brake shoes and wheels to the way traversed during this time by the piston. This abut- -Inent6m is always applied to the abutment 6b at the end of the braking stroke, independently of the variations eventually arising from the distance between brake shoes and wheels. When releasing the brake shoes, the arresting of the piston? is determined'af-ter -a certain constant stroke by stopping the movable member con- .tacting the upper end of the lever l8 which is blocked by a stationary'abutment I 9 limiting the rotation of the lever I5 in the one direction.

The'frictional action between the ring 4 and the piston rod 2a is greater than the tension force of the return spring 219 of the driving piston also -as inFigure 7.

Thebrake controlling device shown in Figures '8 and 9 has for its object to'realize a high operating speed of the brake during the application of the brake shoes to the wheels, i. e. during the first period of the whole braking operation and thento throttle the admission of liquid to the brake cylinder during the braking stroke proper, i. e. during the second bra-king period in order to render the brake perfectly and moderately regulable. To this end, the small piston H] which is displaced at the momentof the brake shoes being applied to the wheels partially closes the opening, admitting theliquid, for instance oil,

piston carrying the valve 60..

, to thebrakecylinder 3. 'On the other hand this small piston l returns to its initial position only 1 vehicle frame with the aid of a spring I l or other 1 wheels.

and-moderately regulable as regards the braking at the moment when the brake shoes leave the Consequently, the brake is perfectly as well as the releasing action and at the same time, it operates-at high speed during the first braking period comprisingthe application of thebrake shoes to the wheels.

Figure 8 shows the brake occupying its release position andFigure 9 illustrates the" same brake in its braking position. The valve 6a works as an automatic va'lve'during the braking stroke of the piston 2 and the finger 2i] fixed solidly rto the movable member'fi connected by friction with the piston 2, follows the valve Ea so that on returning, it'allows the valve'fia to re- -tentso that the speedwith which the brake shoes are-applied to the wheels is high. During this application: of the brake shoes to the wheels, the

small piston it brings the valve to its seat so as to throttle theffiow of liquid and thereby, to'retard the speed of the braking action and to render it moderate. Compensation for too little slack is effected by the small piston H], by means of the finger Z! fixedly solidly to the rod of this At the moment of contact of the brake shoeswith the wheels, the

'movable member 6 which, when too little slack occurs, has notyet attained at this instant the position which it should occupy in the case of normal play, is advanced into this normal position by the finger 2| following the small piston EB. During this advance of the movable member 6, the r'ing 4'slides upon the piston rod 2%. Compensation for too large a slack is obtained' by the abutment 22 corresponding to the abutmentfib of Figures 1 to 5. When an increase of the slack occurs, the finger 29 fixed solidly to the movable member reaches the abutment 22 and therebyarrests the member 6, be-

fore the piston 2 has executed its whole braking stroke so that during the rest of this stroke,

there is an advance of the piston' 2 relative to the member t, whereby the increase of slack is compensated. During thisadvance-of the piston -2 the ring l slides upon the piston rod 2a.

It should be understood that the invention is not confinedto the embodiments shown herein "by way of exemplification and illustration, but

it may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 4

1. "A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said'brake piston, a movable member capable of the applying of the brake shoes to the wheels andthen varying the relative position of said movable stopping member with respect to the brake piston so as to compensate said decrease of p ay.

2. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capable of stopping the brake piston after the execution of a certain releasing stroke, means adapted for coupling said movable member to the brake piston rod in such a way that said movable member usually follows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled to vary its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels and means becoming operative in the case of a decrease of this play at the moment of the applying the relative position of said movable stopping member with respect to the brake piston so as to compensate said decrease of play, and means entering in action in the case of an increase of the normal play between brake shoes and wheels at the end of the whole normal braking stroke and then varying the relative position ofsaidmovable stopping'member with respect to the brake piston so as to compensate said increase of play. i l

3. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating thevariations of the normal play between-the braking shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod -on said brake piston, a movable member capable of stopping the brake piston after execution of a certain releasing stroke, means adapted for coupling said movable member to the brake piston rod in such away that this member usually iollows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled to vary its position relatively to the brake pistonwhen a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels, an auxiliary piston being submitted to the action of the pressure of the brake cylinder, a spring acting upon said auxiliary piston in opposition to said pressure and preventing a displacement of said auxiliary piston until the brake shoes have been applied to the wheels, and means adapted for transmitting the movement of said auxiliary piston to said movable member in the case of a decrease of the normal play between brake shoes and wheels so asto produce a relative displacement of said movable member with respect to the "brake piston and thereby to compensate said decrease of play.

4.- A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described permitting to automatically compensate the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capable of arresting the brake piston after execution of a certainreleasingstroke, means adapted for coupling by friction said movable member to the brake piston rod in such a way that this member usually follows the displacements of brake piston but is also enabled to vary its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels, an auxiliary piston being submitted to the action of the pressure in the brake cylinder, a spring acting in opposition to said pres- Sureupon said auxiliary piston and preventing its displacements during the applying of the brake shoes to the wheels, means fortransmitting the movement ofsaidauxiliary piston to brake shoes a displacement of said movable member relatively to the brake piston to an extent compensating said increase of play.

5. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capable of being displaced by the brake piston, means adapted for coupling said member to the brake piston rod in such a way that said movable member usually follows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled to vary during the braking stroke its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between'brake shoes and wheels, an abutment arresting said movable member and thereby the member in the case of a decrease of the normal play between brake shoes andwheels so as to compensate thereby this decrease of play.

6. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capable of being displaced by the brake piston, means adapted for'coupling said member to the brake piston rod in such a way that said movable member usually follows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled to vary during the braking stroke its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels, an abutment arresting said movable member and thereby the brake piston after execution of a certain releasing stroke, a brake gear serving for transmitting the action of the brake piston to the brake shoes,

elastic means inserted in the brake gear-so as to be'deformed by the action of the pressure existing' in the brake cylinder at the moment of the brake shoes being applied to the wheels, and means for transforming the deformation of said elastic means into a displacement of said movable member in the case of a decrease of the normal play between brake shoes and wheels so as to compensate thereby this decrease of play, and a further abutment stopping said movable member at the end ofthe whole normal braking stroke of the brake piston in the case of an increase of the normal play between brake shoes and wheels so as to compensate this increase of play.

'7. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described permitting to automatically; compensate the variations, of-v the normal play between. the brake, shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake. piston,a movable member being enabled to be displaced by the brake piston, means adapted for coupling said movable'member to the brake piston rod in such a way that said member usually iollows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled, to vary during the braking stroke its position relatively to the brake piston When'awariation; occurs in thenormal play between brake shoes and wheels, an abutment arrestingsaid movable member after the execution of the wholenormal braking stroke of the brake piston so as to produce in the case of an increase of said play of the brake shoes, a relative displacement of 3 said movable vmember with respect to the brake piston and thereby to compensate said increaseof play, an auxiliary piston being submitted to theactlon of the pressure, in the brake cylinder, a spring acting in opposition to said pressure uponsaid auxiliary piston and preventing its displacement until the 25 brake shoesare applied to the wheels, means for transmitting the displacement of said auxiliary piston to said movable member inthe case of a decrease of the normal play of the brake shoes so as to compensate said decrease of play, an electric circuit; an, interrupter inserted Y in said circuit and being opened, by said movable member after a certain releasing stroke of the brake piston, anelectromagnet inserted in said'electric circuit andcausingwhen deenergized, the stopping of the brake pist0n at the end ,of said releasing stroke.-

8. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal 7 play vbetween the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod 7 on said,- brake piston, a movable ,member being enabled to be displaced by the brake piston, means adapted for coupling by friction, saidmovable member tothe brake piston rod in such a Way thatnsaid member usually follows the displacements of=the brake piston-but is also enabled to vary during the braking stroke its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play betweengbrakefishoes and wheels, an abutment arrestingsaid movable member after execution of the whole normal,

braking. stroke of the brake piston so as to provoke in the-case of an increase of theplay. of the brake shoes a relative displacement of; said movable member with respecttothebrake piston and thereby to compensate said increase of play, anelectric circuit, an interrupter inserted in said electric circuit, means permitting automatic closing of said interrupter by the action of the pressure arising .in the brake cylinder at the moment the brake shoes are applied to thewheels, an electro-magnet inserted; in said electric circuit and causing, when energized, said movable member to execute in, the casecofga decrease of the normal. play of the brake shoes a relative displacement with respect to the brake piston to an extent compensating said decrease of play,

9. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the char- ,acter described allowing the automaticcompensation of the variations of the. normal play'between;the brake shoes and the'wheels and comprisingin combinationabrake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capableof- ,beingdisplaced ;by; the brake piston, means adaptedfor coupling saidmember totheibrakel; piston rodin such away that said movable member usually follows the displacements of the;- brake piston but is also enabled to vary during the braking stroke its position relatively to the- 5 brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and, wheels, ,an'. abutment arresting said movable member and! thereby the brake piston after execution of a. certain releasing stroke, an auxiliary piston be-v 10o ing submitted to the action of the pressure of the brake cylinder, a spring acting upon said aux: iliary piston in opposition to said pressure and? preventing a displacement of said auxiliary pistonuntil the brake shoes have been applied tolthec-lfl-l? wheels, means adapted for transmittingv the, movement of said auxiliary piston. to said move able member in the case of a decrease ,of the normal play between brake shoes and wheels so-,as,-

to produce a relative displacement of said mov- 20o; able member with respect to the brake piston; and thereby, to compensate said decrease of play,; means adapted for arresting said movable meme ber at the end of the Whole normal braking stroke of thebrake piston and, thereby, produce 2525? ing in the caseof an increase of the normal play;

of the brake shoes a displacement of said movable member relatively to the brake piston to an extent compensating said increase of play,'and.l; a-pipesystem adapted.forconducting.thedriving 30a: fluid to and from the cylinders of theibrake pie-.- ton and :of :theauxiliary piston. and-including. a; channel-havingia. smaller cross-section thanthat of the other channels ofv the. pipe system. and serving for conducting thefiuid away from. the.: brake cylinder.

10. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described permitting to. automatically compensate the variations of the normal play bei tween the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising combination a brake piston, a rod on said brakepiston, a movable'member capable of F being displaced by the brake piston, means adapt edfor couplingsaidmember to the brake piston rod in such awaythat it usuallyfollows the dis- 455 placements of the brake piston but is 'alsoenabled to vary during the brakingstroke its relative 'position a with respect-to the brake piston when; a'variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels, a pipe serving for evacuating the fluid from the brake cylinder during the releasing stroke, a valveinserted in-said pipe,"means for transmitting'the displacement of said movable member to said valve so as to Wm close the same after a certain releasing stroke of the brake piston and thereby to stop this piston, anjauxiliary piston being submitted to the action of the pressure of the brake cylinder, a spring acting upon said auxiliary piston in oppo- 6Q sition to said pressure and preventing a displacementlof said auxiliary piston until the brake shoes have been applied to the wheels, means for transmitting the movement of said auxiliary piston tosaid movable member .in, the case of a decrease of the normal play of the brake shoes so as to produce a relative displacement of said, movable, member with respect to the brake pis-c ton and, thereby, to compensate said decrease of play, and means adapted for arresting said I movable member at. the end of the whole normal braking stroke of the brake piston and, thereby, producingin the case of an increase of the nor-. mal: playof the brake shoes adisplacement. of said movable memberrelatively to the, brake pie-,-

ton to an extent compensating said increase of play.

11. A vehicle brake adjusting device of the character described serving for automatically compensating the variations of the normal play between the brake shoes and the wheels and comprising in combination a brake piston, a rod on said brake piston, a movable member capable of stopping the brake piston after execution of a certain releasing stroke, means adapted for coupling said movable member to the brake piston rod in such a way that said movable member usually follows the displacements of the brake piston but is also enabled to vary its position relatively to the brake piston when a variation occurs in the normal play between brake shoes and wheels, means becoming operative in the case of a decrease of this play at the moment of the brakes being applied to the wheels and then varying the relative position of said movable member with respect to the brake piston so as to compensate said decrease of play, and means adapted for opening the fluid admission to the brake cylinder to a large extent during the applying of the brake shoes to the wheels and to a small extent during the braking proper.

12. A vehicle brake adjusting device comprising in combination a brake cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, a second cylinder, an auxiliary piston in said second cylinder, a pipe adapted for conducting the driving fluid to said two cylinders, a valve inserted into said pipe, a spring acting upon said auxiliary piston in opposition to the fluid pressure of the brake cylinder acting also upon said auxiliary piston so as to allow a displacement of said auxiliary piston only after the applying of the brake shoes to the wheels, means for transmitting the movement of said auxiliary piston to said valve so as to partially close it during the braking proper.

HENRI PIEPER. 

